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I was taking a friend around London today when we came across a protest in Parliament Square.

It must have been a pretty spontaneous demonstration – police had just started to arrive.

I crossed the road and went into the park to take a look at what was going on.

They were demonstrating against Salman Rushdie’s knighthood, which has already sparked protests in other countries such as Pakistan and Iran.

The man above told me he’d missed a court appearance to take part in the protest. He wouldn’t say why he had to attend court, saying ‘you don’t want to know’. He and others asked where I was from and I told them I don’t work for any media organisation, but that I have a website where I post pictures of protests.

He asked for my site and also gave me his name – Roshan Jat. I have a feeling this isn’t his real name (from the reactions of the others). He wrote down a message he wanted me to display here.

This is what it said:

‘Die muthafucka you deserve to die’ – referring to Salman Rushdie.

One of the group took a video of him writing the message using his mobile phone, and then turned the mobile on me, asking for my name and website. I complied – nothing like a bit of spammage eh!

The man below was being interviewed and although someone told me his name, I didn’t catch it so I’m not entirely sure who he is.

‘We condemn terrorist activities’. Hm. That message is quite a contrast to ‘Die muthafucka you deserve to die’…

Quite a few of the protesters spoke to me asking general questions. I was also stopped by a policeman who quizzed me on why I was taking pictures. It’s funny how much attention you get being the only photographer around. I was being watched like a card counter at the world poker tour. More policemen started to arrive as I left, including one with the huge camera that always makes an appearance at protests.

There was also a protest taking place opposite Downing Street, although I didn’t take any pictures. Hm, I wonder how many demonstrations occur in London each week.

On a side note, walking around today, there was definitely a greater presence of policemen in the capital since the recent attempted car bombs. I noticed policemen stopping and searching vans and cars, and walking around train stations.

31 Responses to Salman Rushdie

first of all…this http://tanya-n.com/Rushdie/rushdie15.JPG maybe a bit off focus but still its a great frame. if only…
“Hm, I wonder how many demonstrations occur in London each week.” I wondered the very same thing.
Seems like the madness isn’t goin to stop. It has been quiet for some time now (or at least I think so) but still the world is on fire. more bombing attempts, more “security”, more invasion of privacy. perhaps they got a file for you as the “weird non-pro-photographer-in-all-demos”. At least we got safer flights (yah!) And the fact that I might move to London in the next few months makes me look twice at these things.

Hi Stelios,
Yes, I know that shot was out of focus – I wasn’t concentrating enough even though I was using autofocus so I don’t really have an excuse! I liked it too : (
I agree – the madness won’t stop.. some people will find any excuse to plant bombs.

that’s a long story… I think the money comes first. but that really takes hours to discuss. still the madness is madness. there’s a song that says “we’re either attacked by terrorists or we’re suspected to be terrorists” shows how crazy the whole thing has become. its sad

I THINK ITâ€™S RATHER SAD THAT THE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS PAID MORE ATTENTION TO SOME YOUNGSTERS WHO JUST WANTED A BIT OF â€˜LIME LIGHTâ€™ INSTEAD ACCURATELY COVERING THE SALMAN RUSHDIE PROTEST. I WAS THERE AND I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WENT ON. I GUESS THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE MEDIA POTRAYING MUSLIMS IN A BAD LIGHT.

Abdul – Thanks for your comment. I simply wrote how I saw it. Unfortunately for you, it was those youngsters that grabbed my attention and started asking me questions. I didn’t spend all my time there with them – I walked around and took pictures of others who were not particularly responsive to me when I tried to initiate conversation. Without communication, how can you get your message across?
Those ‘youngsters’ you speak of were chanting and swearing. You might in future be better off having a word with such people to ensure they don’t misrepresent you, if that is the issue here.
You have also provided a false email address so I cannot communicate with you directly. If you feel I need to amend anything in particular, drop me a line.

THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN SAYING STUPID THINGS TO YOU, BUT THAT WAS WAS PURELY BASED ON THE FACT THAT THEY WERE HAVING A ‘LAUGH’ WITH YOU, THEY WERE NOT CHANTING AND SWEARING AND AS AN INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUAL, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU ARE, YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED, TALKED TO AND QUOTED SOMEONE WHO DIDN’T CLAIM TO HAVE MISSED A COURT APPEARENCE AND WHO GAVE YOU A ‘FALSE’ NAME. I APOLOGISE FOR THE E-MAIL ADDRESS, BUT I DONT HAVE ONE AT THE MOMENT. I FIND IT QUITE IRONIC THAT ON ONE HAND A PERSON WRITES AND SAYS WHAT HE FEELS AND IN DOING SO UPSET OVER A BILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE, HE WILL BE REWARDED WITH KNIGHTHOOD AND ON THE OTHER IF SOME PEOPLE DECIDE TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS THEY ARE RIDICULED AND LABLED AS EXTREMISTS OR TERRORISTS?

ON ONE OF THE PICS (A MAN HOLDING A SIGN SAYING: ‘WE (MUSLIMS) CONDEM TERRORIST ACTIVITIES’ YOU’VE ANNOTATED IT AS:
â€˜We condemn terrorist activitiesâ€™. Hm. That message is quite a contrast to â€˜Die muthafucka you deserve to dieâ€™â€¦
CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME SINCE WHEN HAS SWEARING BEEN REAGRDED AS A ‘TERRORIST ACTIVITY’? OR DOES IT DEPEND ON WHO IS SWEARING?

Abdul,
Firstly, they did chant for a while. Perhaps you didn’t see this. You’ve also misinterpreted me. When I said this:
â€˜We condemn terrorist activitiesâ€™. Hm. That message is quite a contrast to â€˜Die muthafucka you deserve to dieâ€™â€¦
The point I was trying to make was that although you were all at one protest, some people held signs saying they condemned terrorist activities, but by contrast the man I quoted said he thought Salman Rushdie deserves to die. The swearing has little to do with it – it’s the fact he said Rushdie deserves to die.

Tell me, do you think Rushdie deserves to die?

I have in no way insinuated that I think you’re terrorists so let’s leave that out of the question. I agree the man I quoted seemed far from intelligent. As I mentioned I tried talking to other members – the older ones – and I didn’t get much of a response. I’m not a professional journalist – if I did this for a living I probably would have encouraged others to talk to me a little more. I also did what I could in 10 minutes as I had a time limit.

quite the stir caused — missed the protest (was still in France) — would liked to have been there — to see if their message was seen by all and heard by many — great to know that your photos are being recognized — later days

Hey nice pics, i think that guy rushdie was a prick for writing satanic verses & if people wanna swear at him, then let it be! we live in a free country so we should be allowed to say what we want. He knew that he would get into a lot of bother by writing that book so whatever he gets he deserves! as the saying goes: He made his bed, now let him sleep in it’

I totally agree with Abdul’s views in respect to terrorist slogans. If it can be constituted that by the gentleman in the photo saying “Die rushdie, die!”, he has terrorist views, then what do you think about what rushdie has written in his book?
Nice pics by the way!

TANYA TANYA TANYA! MY DEAR TANYA, I HAVE JUST SEEN YOUR WEBSITE. I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT I LIKE THE PICS (OF MYSELF!) BUT I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN THE MANNER YOU SPEAK OF ME! I THOUGHT WE HA A GOOD (BRIEF) WORKING RELATIONSHIP-THING GOING ON! BUT OBVIOUSLY I WAS WRONG, LITTLE DID I KNOW YOU WERE A WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING! DARE I INSULT YOUR INTELLIGENCE, BUT IF YOU CANNOT DISTINGUISH CAMARADERIE FROM A SERIOUS DISCUSSION THEN YOU HAVE A LOT TO LEARN IN LIFE! AND BY THE WAY YOU MIS-QUOTED ME WHAT I ASKED YOU TO QUOTE WAS A LYRIC FROM THE RAPPER 2-PAC:

‘BURN MUTHAFUKA U DESERVE TO DIE’

MAYBE YOU DONT HAVE FAITH OR BELIEVE IN A WAY OF LIFE, IF YOU DID THEN I’M SURE YOU ALSO WOULDN’T TAKE MUCH OF A LIKING TO SOMEONE WHO ATTACKED YOUR BELIEF…

Firstly, I notice that you have written your message from the same IP address as Abdul which suggests you are the same person or you both know each other.. but we’ll leave that to one side.

I was very happy to talk to you – what I wrote was the impression I got from you. When you asked to be quoted, I naturally assumed you were referring to Salman Rushdie. This issue is obviously important to your fellow protesters and I assumed to you as well – so why would you quote what you are describing as a random lyric? So you’re NOT referring to Rushdie as the ‘muthafucka’?

Perhaps this should serve as a lesson to you – when talking to neutral on-lookers in future, perhaps you should act in a more “serious” manner as you are representing your group. It also serves as a lesson to me – differentiate between the ‘serious’ and those having a laugh.

As for having a faith, since you mentioned it – I personally don’t care if anyone attacks my beliefs. I don’t believe in imposing my beliefs on anyone and likewise I don’t feel I need to strike out against those who mock my beliefs.

I apologise if Roshan Jat is really your name, and I’m glad you like the pictures at least! Good luck with the court case!

YES MY NAME IS ROSHAN JAT, I AM NOT ABDUL BUT USING THE SAME COMPUTER FROM A YOUTH CENTRE.

NO IT WAS NOT A RANDOM LYRIC IT WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THAT PIECE OF SHIT – SALMAN RUSH-DIE

ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT YOUR BELIEF OR FAITH CANNOT MEAN THAT MUCH TO YOU IF YOU CANNOT EVEN DEFEND IT WHEN ATTACKED

WE DO NOT AND DID NOT TRY TO IMPOSE OUR BELIEFS ON ANYONE ELSE, THERE ARE OVER 1 BILLION MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD (THAT’S 1 IN EVERY 6 PEOPLE (APPROX)). ITS THE FASTEST GROWING RELIGION IN THE WORLD (PARTICULARY IN THE WEST). THE FACTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

‘WE ARE NOT LIKE THE CHRISTIANS, WE DO NOT TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, NOR DO WE DISRESPECT ANYONE, BUT IF ANYBODY DISRESPECTS YOU OR LAYS A FINGER ON YOU THEN SEND HIM TO THE CEMETARY’… MALCOM X

Interesting debate.
From a neutral point of view, from what i have seen and read,

It sounds as though Mr Roshan Jat is (no disrespect) a bit of a joker/lad however at the same time has a strong belief in religion wether it be islam or any other.

Therefore is rather upset as to what Salman Rushdie has done. I’ve not read the book myself but from what i have gathered he has disrespected the Prophet of muslims, which of course is without a shadow of a doubt, wrong. No human would sit back and allow an individual to disrespect one they love wether it be mother/father/family or even a friend let alone a Prophet to, like Mr Jat siad over a billion muslims. Which leads me to believe it must have been deliberate and well planned to cause a major stirr??

If i am correct, I’m sure there is a law against this `INTENT TO CAUSE RIOT/FEAR OR PROVOCATION OF VIOLANCE’ under the PUBLIC ORDER ACT 1986 (C.64)

Instead he has been knighted,
as to which my understanding is, one is knighted for a service provided to Britain (disrespecting one’s Prophet?) i myself am British but is this British justice?

As for the reporter, reading and viewing the pictures/text i got the impression (as a neutral Brit) the reporting has been steered towards the negative side theres nothing there in favour of the protesters or anything positive about them. i.e..

Mr Jat missed a court case.
…so what if The Joker had a court case there was no need to mention it.
He might have got caught for being a flasher for all we know.

â€˜We condemn terrorist activitiesâ€™. Hm. That message is quite a contrast to â€˜Die muthafucka you deserve to dieâ€™â€¦

I got the impression and assumed these guys are bad, however after reading the comments over past few days and talking to a few muslim friends at work, i have a different view of muslims.

In defence of the reporter i think she has come to the terms of her mistake after discussing it with The Joker.

`It also serves as a lesson to me – differentiate between the â€™seriousâ€™ and those having a laugh.’

Its a shame, muslims are protesting that they condemn terrorism and the protest has not been broadcasted on the news channels.

`Burn muthafucka you deserve to die’

Well he has disrespected the messenger of god i’m sure he’s bought himself a one way ticket to hell wereby his bollocks will roast let alone burn.

Thought of a new name for Rushdie just to put a smile on the muslims faces:-

Thanks for your in-depth comment.
Firstly, as I have previously mentioned, I am not a reporter in the conventional sense â€“ I am â€˜reportingâ€™ this from MY point of view and what information I managed to obtain in the 10 minutes I had. If I’d had more time it’s quite possible a different slant would have emerged.

As for mentioning the court case â€“ I should have made this more clear in the story. I asked Roshan and others around him why they had come to this protest and the answer I got was something along the lines of â€˜Iâ€™m missing a court case for thisâ€™ â€“ I felt this was worthy of mentioning. Many other things were mentioned including the workplace of some of these people, which I didn’t include.

The sentence regarding the contrast in messages was mentioned because from MY point of view (I once again reiterate that this is site documents events from my viewpoint) I felt that it was interesting that while on the one hand a man is holding a sign saying terrorists are condemned, on the other a message of hate is being sent out. Do you not agree these are two very contrasting messages? I am not saying Roshanâ€™s message was that of terrorism â€“ I am saying the two messages are very different. Contrast within the protest.
In fact, I now wish Iâ€™d asked the man holding the â€˜We condemn terrorist activitiesâ€™ sign why he was holding it â€“ it doesnâ€™t really have anything to do with Rushdieâ€™s knighthood. Iâ€™d be interested in knowing what he thought of the Ayatollahâ€™s declaration at the time of publication to sentence Rushdie and others involved in the publication of his book to death. Or is this completely justified? If so, it IS contradictory to an extent to be holding up that sign.

Yes, I agree that itâ€™s a shame this wasnâ€™t publicised on the news for the public to know about it. As far as I saw, I was pretty much the only non-protester interacting with the demonstrators, but they can correct me if Iâ€™m wrong.

â€œWell he has disrespected the messenger of god iâ€™m sure heâ€™s bought himself a one way ticket to hell wereby his bollocks will roast let alone burnâ€ ïƒŸ Iâ€™m curious to know if you are Muslim yourself. Whether you are or arenâ€™t, you must bear in mind that not everyone believes in the â€˜prophetâ€™ as the messenger of god, or even the concept of â€˜hellâ€™, or in fact â€˜godâ€™. Not believing does not mean disrespecting.

Once again thanks for your comment â€“ I appreciate the time youâ€™ve taken to have a look at my site.

I’ve been reading all these comment’s with great amusement. As clearly all these people are mates, pretending to have just randomly stumbled upon this blog.

Since none of them seem to know how to turn the cap locks off hence all the capital letters, and the same IP address.

I take note of the quote “ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT YOUR BELIEF OR FAITH CANNOT MEAN THAT MUCH TO YOU IF YOU CANNOT EVEN DEFEND IT WHEN ATTACKED”
Well if this gentleman is so ready to defend his beliefs. Why can he not leave an e-mail address, considering it takes 30 seconds to set one up.
About as much trouble as spamming someone’s blog with comments.
Yes that shows great courage and conviction.

What did Salman Rushdie get knighted for, by the way?
Some Crusade against the “Saracens”? Or did he do something useful?

I wish people wouldn’t be so over-sensitive about their icons and gods though. And I wish the press would stop milking the issue for cheap effect.
Go to a pub in the UK or mainland Europe and insult the wrong football club and you’re as good as dead too.

I thought Tanya’s story was a good read though, and she doesn’t pretend to be an impartial in depth reporter, she expresses her own views. It’s a web log, and she’s open for discussion, and (a rare thing nowadays) she seems to be genuinely trying to understand the people she encounters.

As for the Malcolm X & Tupac quotes, and the threats, what happened to Islam as a religion of Reason and Peace?

ISLAM IS A RELIGION OF ‘PEACE’ BUT NOT ‘PISS’ AND IF ANYONE DOES INSULT IT, THEN THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. FREEDOM OF SPEACH…WHAT FREEDOM OF SPEACH

I ASK ALL OF YOU, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU WENT UP TO A POLICE OFFICER AND CALLED HIM A STUPID ‘PIG’

DO YOU THINK HE WOULD SAY ‘ITS OK SON YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY & HENCE YOU ARE MERLEY EXPRESSING YOURSELF’ OR DO YOU THINK HE WOULD ARREST YOU FOR ABUSING AN OFFICER (& KICK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU IN THE CELL!!!)

People like Roshan Jat give muslims a bad name,i am a muslim it hurts me when my community gets abad name and that exactly what ur doing and i think its time the muslims stop blaming the media and start start changing your image of being hardcore fundamentalist.U say shit like die mothufucka and u talk about being islamic tell me where it says that in The Holy book that killing someone is permitted?U dont like the rules of the country u live in go back to pakistan.